A burgee is a flag, typically triangular or swallow-tailed, that has been used to identify yacht clubs or boating organisations since the 18th century. They often feature a club’s logos or colours and tend to be flown from the masthead of a sailboat, helping to distinguish one club from another both on the water and on land.
In formal sailing events, there is a proper etiquette for displaying burgees, in which the yacht club’s burgee is typically flown at the top of the mast, while the national flag is flown below it.
Burgees can also be used as a means of communication in yacht races, with officials hoisting different coloured burgees to signal changes in course, penalties or other instructions to competing boats.
What Does the Word ‘Burgee’ Mean?
The word ‘burgee’ likely comes from the French word ‘bourgeois’, meaning shipowner.
Famous Burgees
Sailing burgees have a long history and have been widely used in recreational boating, competitive sailing and yacht racing for hundreds of years. Some examples of famous burgees include the Royal Yacht Squadron, a prestigious club founded in 1815 that used a plain white burgee that was later changed to red in 1821.
Moreover, the Royal Cork Yacht Club, the world’s oldest yacht club have a recognisable burgee that is red with a gold crown and detailing.
At Golden Finishes, we have been producing high-quality custom yacht burgees for over 25 years, so you can trust us to create an excellent burgee that is perfect for your club. You can customise your burgee however you wish, and we can provide you with ropes, toggles and sleeves as needed.
To find out more about our burgee customisation services, check out our custom flags page or get in touch with us today.
Burgee (July 2011). Original photo by Maryann Smith. Licensed under CC BY 2.0
